Two University of Tennessee at Chattanooga employees recently resigned after being cited for public indecency at an adult theater, and one pleaded guilty to his charge Tuesday.
Joseph Wiram, the former coordinator for veteran student services, will serve no jail time and can have the misdemeanor scrubbed from his record once he pays a $500 fine.
The 59-year-old received diversion, which is an alternative sentencing program often used for first-time offenders, and he is not allowed to return to the Cinema One adult movie theater on Rossville Boulevard.
His colleague, James "Chuck" Cantrell, once the associate vice chancellor of marketing and communication, will appear Feb. 20 before Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Lila Statom.
James "Chuck" Cantrell, left, Joseph Wiram, center, and Scott Jarrett have been cited for public indecency.Both men submitted their resignations on Dec. 19 after being placed on administrative leave, university spokesman George Heddleston said Tuesday.
An undercover Chattanooga police officer entered Cinema One on Nov. 3 after receiving complaints about the business and saw Cantrell, 56, engaged in a sex act inside, according to court records.
Wiram and a third man, Scott Jarrett, 49, also were cited for public indecency Nov. 29. All three were later booked and processed at the county jail in December.
Jarrett, who is not affiliated with the university, also pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor citation Tuesday. Because of a prior charge, though, his plea was not diverted and he cannot get it expunged yet.
Cantrell's case is pending, but records show he must complete 10 hours of community service by Jan. 30. His defense attorney, a state prosecutor and Judge Statom signed the order on Dec. 1.
The order does not mean Cantrell's case is finished. But it's not uncommon for defendants looking to resolve a charge to approach the state with a deal, said Melydia Clewell, spokeswoman for the county district attorney's office.
Cantrell's defense attorney, Brett Alexander, declined to comment after Tuesday's proceedings.
Contact staff writer Zack Peterson at zpeterson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6347. Follow him on Twitter @zackpeterson918.